Paramount Pictures will release the survival thriller Heart of the Beast in U.S. theaters on Friday, September 25, 2026. The film reunites star Brad Pitt with director David Ayer for the first time since their 2014 World War II drama Fury.
The movie stars Pitt as James Belmont, a retired U.S. Special Forces officer who survives a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness alongside his combat dog, Odin. The official synopsis describes an intense adventure thriller that explores the unbreakable bond between a man and his best friend as they face their greatest battle yet.
The cast includes J.K. Simmons and Anna Lambe. Cameron Alexander wrote the screenplay. Producers are Olivia Hamilton, Marty Bowen, David Ayer, and Brad Pitt, with Damien Chazelle serving as an executive producer.
Heart of the Beast carries a PG-13 rating and a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. The film was shot on location in the South Island of New Zealand, which doubled for the Alaskan wilderness.
Paramount released the first trailer in June 2026, followed by a second trailer on August 13. A behind-the-scenes featurette featuring Pitt and Ayer was released in mid-September.
Pitt described the physical demands of the production in interviews ahead of the release. He said, ‘Physically, I would say absolutely the hardest movie I’ve ever made, but also very rewarding.’
Ayer told IndieWire that the shoot presented unexpected difficulties. He said, ‘It was a bigger challenge than I understood going into it.’
Reports in September indicated that Pitt and Ayer prepared separate cuts of the film, with Paramount executives stepping in to resolve the creative conflict. The studio ultimately granted additional post-production time.
Heart of the Beast opened in North American theaters on September 25, 2026, alongside several other wide releases. The film earned $20 million domestically in its opening weekend, landing at No. 3 at the North American box office.
Internationally, the film collected $30.1 million from 63 markets, bringing its worldwide opening weekend total to $50.1 million. The production budget was reported at $82 million.
In its second weekend, the film added approximately $7.4 million domestically, bringing its North American total to over $27.4 million. The film’s performance in international markets is expected to be crucial for recouping its costs.
Critics responded positively to the film. On Rotten Tomatoes, Heart of the Beast holds a critic score of approximately 94% based on early reviews. The audience score is 96%. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 69 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews.
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film as ‘a love story, and one of the most moving to come along in a long time.’ Variety wrote that the film features ‘a terrific performance — and Brad Pitt is extremely good too.’
The Los Angeles Times noted that ‘a dog steals Heart of the Beast while Brad Pitt’s charm is kept on leash.’ The Guardian called it ‘a bit cheesy’ but added that ‘Pitt is the right guy in the right film.’
Heart of the Beast continues its theatrical run in the United States and international markets.
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